We got into Knoxville and called Richard (Coytee) and he had us meet him at his office and then took us to lunch.  We went to Steak n Shake, it was very good.  I ate too much but I was hungry.  DD came out from his hiding place for a picture.

Leaving Tennessee we pasted this building.  Not sure what it is.

Arkansas, going over the mighty Mississippi River.

We made it just south of Little Rock.  Around 650 miles for the day. Not to shabby.  Here is one last picture of the sun setting over some rice fields.

Only 500 miles for tomorrow.  We are headed to Bulverde, TX to Carolines sisters house.

Looks like fun, be safe !

Oh, I forgot to mention that Custom 3's are in use while on the bike so I am getting good tunes the whole time.

Steve

Had a great lunch and visit with Steve and Caroline.  Too bad they stopped in Asheville and coudln't make it my way the night prior.  I could have put them up for the evening (and used his back for moving some limbs I've collected from a fallen oak tree )

I didn't even have a chance to get my duck out to meet Devil Duck

What a great idea to post your ride,keep the pics coming,happy trails.

Looks like a pyramid .

customsteve01:

Leaving Tennessee we pasted this building.  Not sure what it is.

 

customsteve01:

Leaving Tennessee we pasted this building.  Not sure what it is.

"The Pyramid is a 32-story, 20,000 seat arena used for a variety of events including concerts and basketball games. It was home to our Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis basketball teams, but now that the FedEx Forum has been completed, the Memphis Grizzlies games are played exclusively there, as that was the entire reason for building the new arena."

Well we made it to Bulverde, TX.  Man did it get hot today in Texas.  I didn't realize that I had gotten so UNaclimated to the heat.  Did 650 miles again today but did I say the heat killed me.  Didn't take tons of pictures cause we used to live here and have alot from around here.  I do wish I would have taken some of the corn fields we passed.  They are having a really bad drought and the fields are just dead.  Left Little Rock at 8:00 am and didn't stop till the Texas border about 140 miles.

the texas welcome sign was missing due to all the road construction at the border.  these were from the welcome center.

Who is this bad looking guy with a rubber duck on his shoulder?

Carooline pulled up beside me and took this one.  I thought this was pretty cool, how many of us have a picture of ourselves rolling down the road?

I did stop before getting into Dallas.  This is Lake Ray Hubbard, the Dallas skyline is in the distance you just can't see it in the little version.

I also stopped to pay my respects to my mother.  This is at the entrance of the DFW National Cemetery.

At her grave.  She passed Thanksgiving day of 2008, man do I miss her. I Love You Mom.

The view.

This is the Dallas Baptist University That is right next to the cemetery.

No pictures from Dallas to Bulverde but I will ride thru this area again Sunday or Monday.  Not riding anywhere tomorrow, we have some business to attend to.  But I might ride out to Gruene Harley and I will try and take some pics of the area.  I understand the river is almost dry.  Its really sad cause there are alot of toobing companies that depend on the river to make money.

I would really like ideas from you guys.  My route is just a guide and I want ideas on how to make it better.  

We stopped for a couple of hours tonight just south of Austin to have some dinner and I needed to cool off.  We got back on 35 just to get stuck in construction for about 45 min.  The bike and I got hot all over again.  Did I say it was hot today?  I believe it was 98 or so.

More to follow..............................

 Steve, good photos mang but get some sunscreen on or you'll be the color of that leather in a week. 

Have you posted your ETA to various cities or when can I expect you in Indy? 

Be safe my friend!

Michael

customsteve01:

I would really like ideas from you guys.  My route is just a guide and I want ideas on how to make it better.

Your current route goes up US 95 beginning at Fruitland/Payette.  BORING!  Instead, make your way over to Idaho 55 -- I suggest leaving I-84, say at Middleton via ID-44, and getting on ID-55 at Eagle.  Head North!

You'll see lots of nice curves going over the Horseshoe Bend hill, and then you'll travel north along the Payette river, which had lots of rapids a month ago (probably not so much now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPXoKfHi35g&feature=related).  Stay on ID-55 along the Payette North Fork, where you'll see desert hills transform to forested hills.

Then, past Cascade to the beautiful McCall resort area and Payette Lake (5,200' elevation) , then down a very curvy and somewhat steep grade to New Meadows.  There you'll pick up US 95 and continue North.

You will start down the Little Salmon River to Riggins and White Bird.  The scenery changes back to low-altitude desert canyons.

Get off US 95 at White Bird and follow the OLD road (1915) to the top, to rejoin US 95.  Or, stay on US 95 for a 3,000-foot 7% grade climb and stop at the wayside if you're interested in the Nez Perce War.  The old road's loops can be seen in the lower center in this pic (see http://www.biketrip2001.com/Idaho/7-31.htm):

  -- Larry

Your map in Southern Idaho seemed to change temporarily earlier today, to go past Craters of the Moon NM.  Maybe I was responsible since I noted it earlier.  However, that route (now changed back) would have gone through the worst of Idaho, lots of desert and across the south end of high Basin-and-Range mountains -- lots of wide valleys and space, but so what ... forget that!  IMO, stick to the ID 55-US 12 routing I suggested above.

One possible alternative: I-84 to US 20 at Mountain Home, then north on ID-75 past Sun Valley and over the 8,990' Galena Summit and past the Sawtooth Mountains.  Stay on ID-75 past Stanley ...

... until its junction with US 93 just outside of Challis.  North on US 93, through Salmon and over the 7,000' Lost Trail pass, then either to Missoula and I-90, or MT-43 to I-15 and I-90 to head to Bozeman and Sputnik.  LOTS of wierd geology and some pretty Salmon river valley scenery, but you don't see much forest until north of Salmon.

-- Larry

Day 4  07/08/09

Today is my sweeties birthday so I let her sleep in and went for a ride around the area and took a few pictures.

Stopped at Gruene Harley.  Bought a hydro vest that I will try out tomorrow on the ride to Houston.

The Famous Gruene Hall is one of the original buildings in the town and has hosted many named musicians.  The likes of Goerge Strait, Pat Green, David Allen Cole to name a few.  Its really a pretty cool family bar.  I parked my bike here and started to walk across the street to take this picture and a guy comes running out saying sir, sir you can't park here.  I said I know I just want to take a picture.  he goes oh ok and walks back inside.  It is also a dance hall.

One of the antique malls and restuants in town.  The Gruene River Grill has great food too.

The Gruene Water Tower.  Sort of a neat shot i think.

Bubba's Big Deck is a Biker Bar right on the river

One of the many tude rental places on the river.

You get in the river here and they come pick you up in a bus down river and put the tubes in the big trailer.

This is a really small bridge under the railroad.  It's only one car wide and 7 foot 10 inches high.

FM 1863 between state road 46 and 281 in Bulverde.  notice how dead the grass is here.

Some houses built on the cliffs out by Caroline's sister's house

We will be headed to Sugarland TX some time tomorrow I will post more from there.  Tonight we are staying in a Bed and Breakfast Just on the outskirts of Gruene.  Its actually right down the street from that railroad bridge.